Thomas Eakins: Art, Medicine, and Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia

by Amy Werbel

The life and work of Thomas Eakins (1844 - 1916), America’s most celebrated portrait painter, have long generated heated controversy. In this fresh and deeply researched interpretation of the artist, Amy Werbel sets Eakins in the context of Philadelphia’s scientific, medical, and artistic communities of the 19th century, and considers his provocative behavior in the light of other well-publicized scandals of his era. This illuminating perspective provides a rich, alternative account of Eakins and casts entirely new light on his renowned paintings.
Eakins’ modern critics have described his artistic motivations and beliefs as prurient and even pathological. Werbel challenges these interpretations and suggests instead that Eakins is best understood as an artist and teacher devoted to an exacting and profound study of the human body, to equality for women and men, and to middle-class meritocratic and Quaker philosophies.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published June 29, 2007

About the author

I fell in love with art as a kid growing up in New York City, and followed my passion to major in art history at Harvard, and then complete a PhD at Yale. My focus on American art in particular reflects my great admiration for the project of democracy, and fascination for the role visual culture plays in our dynamic, pluralistic, and complex society. Historical experiences and narratives are crucial elements of how we understand our nation, and our future possibilities. In all my work, I hope to help readers understand significant current issues in new ways through the lens of the past, and/or cross-cultural comparison.